Anyphaena sceptile Lin & Li, 2021

Lin, Yejie, Marusik, Yuri M., Gao, Caixia, Xu, Hao, Zhang, Xiaoqing, Wang, Ziyi, Zhu, Wenhui & Li, Shuqiang, 2021, Twenty-three new spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from Asia, Zoological Systematics 46 (2), pp. 91-152 : 94-98

Anyphaena sceptile Lin & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 3A–C, 4A–B, 12B, 14C–D)

Diagnosis. Male of A. sceptile Lin & Li , sp. nov. is similar to those of A. grovyle Lin & Li , sp. nov. and A. mogan Song & Chen, 1987 in having a similarly shaped C, but they can be distinguished by the long, sword-shaped MA (vs. irregular polygon shaped in A. grovyle Lin & Li , sp. nov. and A. mogan ), the dRTA is short and robust (vs. dRTA slender in A. grovyle Lin & Li , sp. nov. and A. mogan ). Females can be easily distinguished by the inconspicuous COs, beneath the inner edges of the LL.

Description. Male (holotype, IZCAS-Ar42392, Figs 3A–C, 12B, 14C). Total length 5.22, carapace 2.52 long, 2.02 wide, pale yellow. Opisthosoma 2.61 long, 1.81 wide. Opisthosoma pale yellow. AER slightly recurved, PER procurved. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.21, PME– PLE 0.18, AME–PME 0.25, ALE–PLE 0.20. Clypeus height 0.08. Chelicerae with five promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Endites, labium, and sternum pale yellow. Legs yellow, covered with many setae. Leg measurements: Leg I 11.23 (2.70 + 3.76 + 3.04 + 2.03), leg II 9.44 (3.04 + 3.13 + 2.04 + 1.23), leg III 10.15 (3.15 + 3.33 + 2.25 + 1.42), leg IV 11.10 (2.56 + 3.68 + 2.89 + 1.97). Leg formula 1432.

Palp ( Figs 3A–C, 12B). VTBA short; RTA with two parts, wider than long, dRTA distal to vRTA, both robust. vRTA with two apophyses. Sp with two conspicuous spirals. MA long, almost triangular, covers C in ventral view. C strongly curved. E filamentous.

Female (paratype, IZCAS-Ar42393, Figs 4A–B, 14D). Total length 7.12, carapace 2.62 long, 2.23 wide, pale yellow. Opisthosoma 4.06 long, 2.49 wide. Colour as in male. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.13, PME 0.15, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.24, AME–PME 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.24. Clypeus height 0.11. Chelicerae with five promarginal and six retromarginal teeth. Leg measurements: Leg I 9.88 (2.69 + 3.51 + 2.33 + 1.35), leg II 8.18 (1.97 + 2.83 + 2.05 + 1.33), leg III 6.40 (1.92 + 2.03 + 1.43 + 1.02), leg IV 9.27 (2.72 + 2.82 + 2.61 + 1.12). Leg formula 1423.

Epigyne ( Figs 4A–B) longer than wide; COs inconspicuous, beneath chitinized structure; CDs convoluted, base enlarged. AG distinct, located anterolaterally on S. S globular.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, China: Hainan, Changjiang County, Bawangling, Dongsizhan (19.0495°N, 109.1157°E), 23 April 2009, leg. Guo Tang (IZCAS-Ar42392) . Paratypes. 2♀ (IZCAS-Ar42393–Ar42394), same data as holotype .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Etymology. The species is named after Sceptile, a fictional character from Pokémon Emerald who lives in the forest, as does this new species; noun (name) in apposition.